Once Stanford took a commanding 26-0 lead into the fourth quarter, Shaw called his line over.

"We're not going to pass anymore," he told them.

Yankey loved that idea. He could tell the Oregon defensive line was spent. He was smelling blood.

"You can feel it," Yankey said.

The linemen spent the bye week re-dedicating themselves to blocking technique after facing undersized Oregon State. Shaw said coaches instructed the blockers to get lower and not allow rushers to get underneath them.

Indeed, the line's pass protection stood up against the Ducks (8-1, 5-1). Quarterback Kevin Hogan completed 7 of 13 passes for 103 yards. He had sufficient time in the pocket to find receivers or break away for 58 yards rushing.

And equally important: Oregon couldn't get to Hogan for a sack.

Yankey didn't say it. But it was easy to tell the game offered redemption for the linemen after the Oregon State game.

"We left with a bad taste in our mouths," he said.

It tasted a lot different Thursday against a defensive front Yankey described as the best Stanford has seen this season.

It's the imagery Stanford likes to showcase as a power football program.

"When you walk into our new facility, the players only entrance, to the left is the offensive line, to the right is the picture of the defensive line," Shaw said. "That is what football is about."

That is what it came down to against the mighty Ducks.

"You control the line of scrimmage, and you have a chance to win" Shaw said. .